[Python-ideas] math.inf and math.nan constants

[MRAB]

On 2015-01-12 18:05, Guido van Rossum wrote:
> On Mon, Jan 12, 2015 at 8:54 AM, Chris Barker <chris.barker at noaa.gov
> <mailto:chris.barker at noaa.gov>> wrote:
>
>     Being able to do x is math.nan, and have that give the answer most
>     commonly wanted would be a nice way to spell, but, again, not worth
>     breaking the now clear definition of "is".
>
>
> While this discussion about what the meaning of "is" is is a funny
> in-joke for those who remember the Clinton impeachment trials, that you
> even considered it (and posted about it!) makes me shudder -- Python's
> "is" operator is so closely tied to object identity that to propose
> overriding it as a kind of "category" test makes me wonder if you
> understand Python at all. Proposing to change "==" to make all NaNs
> appear equal would be less earth-shattering -- that might go against all
> IEEE fp standards, but at least Python's "==" operator is intended for
> that purpose.
>
I was going to say that calling it "isnan" is in keeping with
"isdigit", etc, but those are instance methods!

So, why is it "math.isnan(x)" and not "x.isnan()"?